More about: St. Mark's Basilica in Venice Tickets and Tours
St. Mark's Basilica stands near the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Square, the hub of the city's social and religious life. With over 4,000 square metres of gilded mosaics, marble floors and 500 columns dating back to the 3rd century, it is a unique temple in Italy.
As one of the most visited attractions in Venice, getting quick access to avoid queues or booking a guided tour of the Basilica can be a great idea. Access to St. Mark's most important treasures, the Museum, the Treasury and the Golden Altarpiece, is subject to a fee. Here are the best options:
Venice St. Mark Basilica Tickets with Terrace Access
Access St. Mark's Basilica with an audio guide and views from the terrace
Skip the lines at the entrance and explore St. Mark's Basilica at your own pace with an audio guide and exclusive access to its terrace.
With this skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Basilica, you can explore this Venetian monument without waiting, accessing both the ground floor and the upper terrace and the St. Mark's Museum. A digital audio guide in your language will accompany you throughout the tour so you don't miss a thing about its history, art and architecture.
You'll also enjoy spectacular panoramic views from the terrace, a privileged spot from which to contemplate St. Mark's Square and take the best photos of your trip. This option also includes assistance from staff at the meeting point to help you with any questions before starting the tour.
Why I like this option: it combines skip-the-line entry, an audio guide and access to the terrace, allowing you to enjoy the basilica in complete freedom and with historical context.
Recommended if... you want to explore St. Mark's Basilica from the inside, learn with an audio guide and enjoy unique views from above.
Venice Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour
Explore St. Mark's Basilica with an expert guide
Discover every corner of this impressive temple on a guided walking tour and skip the queues and waiting.
Walk around and marvel at this architectural masterpiece and Venetian icon. Tour St. Mark's Basilica on a guided tour with a small group of about 10 people. Enjoy the works that surround it, its domes and the traces of great artists who have left their legacy.
Access the terrace and take the best photographs, as well as enjoy a digital map with more than 200 points of interest to visit, which will make this experience unforgettable.
Why I like this option: you'll skip the queues and waiting and be able to tour the basilica with a guide who will help you appreciate every corner and story.
Recommended if... you want to take home a complete souvenir of this visit, learning from an expert along the way.
How to buy tickets for St. Mark's Basilica
Visiting this jewel of Byzantine art is a must if you are walking around Venice. You can get your tickets at the ticket office, but the influx of tourists to this place is so great that queues and waiting times are usually 45 minutes or more. What's more, you won't be able to guarantee entry at the time you want or on the day you want.
That's why I definitely recommend buying your tickets for St. Mark's Basilica in advance online. This way, you'll save time and be able to better organise your travel itinerary. What's more, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you'll have access not only to the Basilica, but also to the Museum, the terrace and the Pala D'Oro.
Ticket prices for St. Mark's Basilica
Until recently, admission to St. Mark's Basilica was free. Unfortunately, due to the huge influx of tourists to the city of Venice, this has changed. You can now buy your tickets online, with prices ranging from £28 depending on the season ** 28**
Types of tickets and visits to St. Mark's Basilica
There are different ways to discover St. Mark's Basilica, from the simplest ticket with an audio guide to complete guided tours that include other monuments such as the Doge's Palace. The choice depends on the type of experience you are looking for: you can explore at your own pace, access exclusive areas such as the terrace or the museum, or delve into its history with an expert guide. Here are the main options:
- Skip-the-line entry to St. Mark's Basilica with terrace and audio guide from £42: skip-the-line entry, audio guide, museum and panoramic views from the terrace.
- Entrance with digital audio guide and written guide from £28: access to the ground floor with audio guide and guidebook to explore on your own.
- Entrance with access to the Pala d'Oro, terrace and museum from £57: also includes the famous Pala d'Oro and the Museum of San Marco.
- Guided tour of the Basilica and the Doge's Palace from £85: 2-hour tour of both monuments with an expert guide.
- Guided tour of the square and the Basilica from £60: walking tour of St. Mark's Square plus guided tour of the basilica.
- Guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica after closing time from £73: exclusive entry outside normal opening hours, includes the crypt, Pala d'Oro and the option to add the Doge's Palace.
Opening hours of St. Mark's Basilica
- St. Mark's Basilica in Venice is open every day of the year from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission 15 minutes before closing time.
- On Sundays and public holidays, opening hours are restricted from 2pm to 4.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm from November until Easter Week the following year.
What you shouldn't miss on your visit to St. Mark's Basilica
Once you have chosen your type of tour and in addition to exploring this masterpiece of Byzantine art that is St. Mark's Basilica, there are four points of special interest that you cannot miss on your visit and which are paid for on site, except in the case of some of the excursions that include their entrance fee:
Golden Palm
This is the most important work of art in St. Mark's Basilica, a large altarpiece set with enamels and precious stones.
Treasury of St. Mark's Basilica
This is a Byzantine treasure of gold and silver originating from the sacking of Constantinople.
The Museum and the Horses of St. Mark
This museum is full of works, among which the original sculptures of the Horses of St. Mark stand out. Made of bronze and bathed in gold, these sculptures were found in the hippodrome of Constantinople and were part of the booty taken during the Fourth Crusade. In addition, from the museum you can see the ceilings and mosaics of the basilica up close.
Basilica Balcony
From the terrace of St. Mark's Basilica, which you can access via the Loggia del Cavalli staircase, you will enjoy unique views of the majestic St. Mark's Square. This was the royal balcony from which the Doge of Venice watched the ceremonies held in the square, and from here you can see the porticoed facades of the square, the Campanile, the Torre dell'Oglio and the facade of the Doge's Palace.
In the background, you can see the columns of St. Mark's and St. Theodore's, and in the distance you can see the island of San Giorgio Maggiore on the lagoon with its imposing church.
How to get to St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Basilica is impossible to miss, as it is located in the city centre, in St. Mark's Square, making it very easy to reach on foot or by vaporetto. If you are travelling to Venice but are not staying in the city, you can reach the basilica from the train station in half an hour on foot.
You can take advantage of a 72-hour pass, which gives you unlimited access to three water transport lines, allowing you to reach St. Mark's Square and other key points in the city.
Other interesting activities
If you are interested in visiting St. Mark's Basilica, you may also want to consider visiting the Doge's Palace (you can read my article about it here Doge's Palace in Venice Tickets and Tours). I also recommend completing your trip to Venice with a gondola ride. To help you book your itinerary, here are the best options: Venice Gondola Rides.